Several ASEAN members skip Thai-hosted talks with Myanmar

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) skipped a two-day meeting hosted by Thailand’s government and attended by the foreign minister of Myanmar’s military junta.

Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai justified hosting his Myanmar counterpart Tham Chee Wei, saying that this type of meeting is “not unprecedented” as Thailand has organized it for the third time, according to the local Thai PBS broadcasting service.

He said that Thailand has a border spanning 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) with Myanmar, and each instance of conflict has affected Thailand to a greater extent compared to other nations.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the current Chair of ASEAN, declined to attend the meeting. Malaysia and Singapore also skipped the meeting.

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, for his part, said that it is premature to engage in discussions with Myanmar's military government at the leadership or ministerial level.

Cambodia, however, sent its representatives to attend the meeting held in Bangkok on Sunday and Monday.